By ERIC STARLING / For the Reporter

ALABASTER – After a disappointing loss to Spain Park last week, the Warriors took the field determined to show that the close game was no fluke. With a dominating ground game, Thompson moved to 3-1 on the young season with a 21-14 win over Mountain Brook.

Mountain Brook won the toss and decided to defer to the second half. That decision proved costly for the Spartans since it allowed the Warriors to establish their running game and set the tone for the game.

The Warriors took over four minutes off the clock and marched 70 yards for the first score of the game. Walker Lott and Carlos Stephens combined to carry the ball 11 times on the opening drive with Stephens capping it off with an 8-yard run to pay dirt. A Dimitri Davis extra point and the Warriors led 7-0.

With the defense again dominating the line, the Spartans could not get anything going early.

Thompson took possession of the ball late in the first at its own 44-yard line. Lott connected with Morris Edwards Jr. across the middle for a big first down in Spartan territory and then, two plays later, the two hooked up again for a 26-yard scoring strike. Another extra point and the Warriors were out to a 14-0 lead. Edwards finished the game with four catches for 54 yards.

Mountain Brook scored midway through the second quarter, and the Spartans’ two-point conversion attempt failed. However, a Thompson penalty gave the Spartans another chance and they kicked the extra point to trail 14-7 at the half.

Rain moved in for the second half and forced both teams to keep it on the ground for most of the third quarter and neither team scored. Just when it looked like the fourth quarter may play out the same way, the Spartans struck for a 36-yard pass play, tying the score at 14.

Corey Burroughs took the ensuing kickoff for the Warriors and with a great return, the Warriors took over at their own 49-yard line with four minutes remaining. Lott and Edwards again connected across the middle moving the ball into Spartan territory before the drive stalled leaving the Warriors with a fourth and four. Lott dropped back and hit a streaking Ryan Martin for 17 yards and a first down at the Spartan 17. From there, Lott called his own number and carried a host of Spartans across the line for the go-ahead score.

Lott finished the night with 101 yards rushing on 21 carries and 134 yards passing.

The Thompson defense held Mountain Brook on four straight plays to end the Spartans night.

With the win, the Warriors move to 1-1 in Class 7A, Region 3. This area win could be a big catalyst for the remainder of the season. “This is more than just one win, and one area game, this could help this program down the road,” commented Coach Mark Freeman. “Knowing they can win an area game against a hard hitting team and that they earned it, will definitely help down the road.”

Thompson will travel to Hoover next week for their first road game of the season.